Sound
Dynamics
Also called dynamic contrast, punch, slam
Dynamics is how convincingly a product moves between quiet and loud: the snap of a drum hit, the swell of an orchestra, the difference between a whisper and a shout. "Slam" and "punch" describe its low-frequency side.
Macrodynamics are the big swings, such as a crescendo; microdynamics are the small shifts in level within a phrase that make a performance sound alive. A product can do one well and the other poorly.
Dynamics depend on the amplifier having power to spare, the driver controlling its movement and the recording having any dynamics left after mastering. Heavily compressed pop leaves little to reveal, which is why reviewers test it with acoustic or orchestral recordings.
Owners rate dynamics on a scale from soft to punchy. The term is unrelated to Dynamic range, which is a measured span in decibels, and to dynamic drivers, which is a type of transducer.
Where you’ll see this on tonistry.
- Owners rate dynamics on a Compressed ↔ Dynamic scale in their reviews. See community reviews and how ratings are read.